Drawing of the Mark 12A re-entry vehicle that houses the W78 warhead. The W78 is an American thermonuclear warhead with an estimated yield of 335–350 kilotonnes of TNT (1,400–1,460 TJ), deployed on the LGM-30G Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) and housed in the Mark 12A reentry vehicle.

Production engineering of the W62 began in March 1967, with the actual production of the warhead beginning in March 1970. The W62 Mk-12 warhead was initially deployed on the first Minuteman III squadron to become operational, which occurred on December 29, 1970.

In the late 1970s the MK 12 reentry system was modified to accommodate a new reentry vehicle, designated the MK 12A. Three hundred of the original 550 MK 12 systems were converted to the MK 12A configuration.

MK-12A subassemblies are now being fabricated for delivery in 1979 and for subsequent operational deployment even though important development tests will not be completed until late 1978 and early 1979.

The team performs reentry vehicle test and repair for the Mk12A, Rocket System Launch Program (RSLP) in support of United States Space Force, Propulsion System Rocket Engine (PSRE) maintenance for the Minuteman III, motor dissection and propellant analysis for aging and surveillance, and operates the Strategic Missile Integration Complex (SMIC ...

Exploded diagram of the Mk21 reentry vehicle for the W87 [clarification needed] The W87 is an American thermonuclear missile warhead formerly deployed on the LGM-118A Peacekeeper ("MX") ICBM. 50 MX missiles were built, each carrying up to 10 W87 warheads in multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles (MIRV), and were deployed from 1986 to 2005. Starting in 2007, 250 of the W87 warheads ...

Sep 1, 2001 · The W-78 is the warhead used with the Mk 12A reentry vehicle which arms a portion of the Minuteman III ICBM force. Designed for use on MIRV (multiple independently targeted reentry vehicle) bus upper stage. The W-78 replaced part of the W-62 to provide an increased hard target kill capability by increasing both accuracy and yield.

Jun 4, 2024 · A joint team of Air Force Global Strike Command Airmen supported by Space Force Guardians launched an unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile equipped with one re-entry vehicle June 4 at 12:56 a.m. Pacific Time …

Additionally, the ICBM Fuze Modernization program will address the associated Minuteman III weapon system modifications, system testing, support equipment, data, training, and fielding efforts required to support the new Mk21 fuze and Mk12A/W78 LEP.

Oct 31, 2023 · Lockheed Martin has been awarded a near-$1bn contract to conduct engineering, manufacturing and design work to provide a “low technical risk and affordable” RV for the Mk21A programme, which will fit a new RV to the US’ Sentinel nuclear missile system.